Lamberth stays in contempt proceedings

WASHINGTON, Sept. 14 (UPI) -- An appeals court in Washington Tuesday refused to remove U.S. Judge Royce Lamberth from contempt proceedings for ex-officials overseeing the Indian trust.

Lamberth initiated the contempt proceedings when then officials of the Interior and Justice departments failed to come up with records, and it appeared some Interior e-mails had been destroyed, despite the judge's orders not to do so.

Lamberth was investigating the alleged mishandling by the Justice Department of the "Individual Indian Money" trust created for each Indian having an interest in territory ceded to the United States.

The dispute has gone on for decades.

Eleven ex-officials and department employees had sought the removal of Lamberth and two special masters from the contempt proceedings. One of the special masters was removed earlier, the other resigned.

The appeals court said the special masters had not communicated with Lamberth outside the courtroom, so there was no need to remove him. However, the appeals panel did throw out reports by one of the masters.